Agricultural machinery



4 Sheets-Sheet WVE/VrdQ {5/7/6244 9/5 A. E. M. RAULAIS AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY Flled June 9, 1926 Feb. 12, 1929.

Feb. 12, 1929.

ALE. M. RAULAIS AGRICULTURAL MACH INERY Filed June 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 12, 1929. 1,702,018

A. E. M. RAULAIS AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY Filed June 9, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 mm Mummum!mumHmuunflmu'm L A I 1?. 1

I ma /v me Feb. 12, 1929.

A. E. M. RAULAIS AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY Filed June 9, 1926 4 SheetsSheet 4 I II Patented Feb. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES ALEXIS ELIE MAURICE RAULAIS, 0F TOULOUSE, FBANGE.

AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY.

Application filed June 9, 1926, Serial No.

My invention relates to an apparatus for the auton'iatic operation of all types of agricultural machines by external means, and by the mechanism provided in the said apparatus I am enabled to displace the agricultural machine or implement, to d an the said machine in either direction and to turn it about into the working position in whatever direction of travel. all these movements being obtained when desired. My said apparatus further comprises sprinkling means which "further the growth of the crops.

The aforesaid movements are automatically obtained. in all cases. and the apparatus can be controlled by a single person. whose function is limited to the observation and care of the device.

Since the aforesaid movements are to be eitfected according to a regular and predetermined system, the mechanism is provided with the necessary elements which act in combination with fixed abutments to produce each movement at the proper time and to limit its amount.

The appended drawings show by way of example various elements of the apparatus according to the invention.

Fig, 1 is a side elevation of the traveling bridge. Fig. 2 is the correspondingend view.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism for the travel of the bridge.

Fig. 1 shows the IIIQClltll'llSlllfEOl operating the agricultural machines or implements whereby they are inserted into or moved from the ground, and are also turned about.

5 is an elevational view of the lower part of the carriage.

Fig. 6 shows the arrangement for the automatic winding and unwinding of the insulated electric cable.

Fig. 7 shows the meansfor controlling implements of an unsymmetrical character.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fi 7. e

In principle, the apparatus consists of two structural girders 1 and 2 which are in verti- 'al and parallel disposition, and are connected together by the upper and lower cross members 3 and 4c.

The structure thus formed is mounted upon the side supports 5 and 6 which rest upon the rails 7 and 8 through the medium of the wheels 9, 10, 11 and 12.

The structural elements 1 and 2 are each provided at their lower part with rails 13 and 14 employed for a rolling carriage 16 which serves for the traction of the agricultural im- 114,802, and in France December 24;, 1925.

plements; said carriage is drawn forward by an endless chain 17 disposed upon two recessed wheels 18 and 19 which are mounted at the respective ends of the apparatus.

The lower part of the said bridge structure is situated about 2 meters above the ground, the height depending upon the height of the crops.

The whole device may be laterally displaced. after each traveling movement of? the said carriage, upon the steel rails 7 and 8 which are mounted upon wood ties or upon a halt-buried structure consisting of reinforced concrete.

Along the length of the said bridge structure is mounted suitable piping for sprinkling water upon the crops. The water which is supplied by a channel along one of the rails 7 or 8 is pumped into the sprinkling pipes.

At one end of the bridge is mounted the motor 22 actuating the agricultural implennent and its carriage, as well as the devices for the motion of the bridge.

The carriage 16 consists of a metallic structure mounted upon wheels which are provided with ball bearings, and it travels upon the rails 13 and let along the bridge.

The motor 22 may be of the electric orthe thermic type. For electric motors, the current is supplied by an insulated wire which is fed from or wound upon a drum asthe apparatus moves forward or back.

Obviously, the bridge is to be employed upon surfaces of ground of all sizes, and will be made larger or smaller according to the case; it will also be modified in shape, depending upon the extent and character of the ground.

Otherwise stated, the bridgesmay have a widely varying construction, while remaining within the scope of the invention.

The motor 22 drives-through reducing gear the wheel 18 which is mounted on a horizontal axle and upon which is wound the traction chain 17 for the machines. The wheel 18 may be driven at different speeds, and hence I prefer to employ a continuous current motor with series or shunt field. Herein the motor cabin will contain a starting rheostat and a small switchboard provided with a voltmeter and an ammeter.

The speed of the carriage 16 should be Se 'lected to correspond to the power required to drive the implements, for a given area.

The motor usually comprises internalventilating means whereby all overheating will be prevented in the event of an excessive load. The normal succession of movements to be obtained is as follows:

When the implement (plow or the like) completed, the machine which has now been 'placedlin the proper working position, will. commence the next furrow.

The beam is made to travel by the follow ing operation 2 The carriage 16 is supposed to be at the end of its left hand course (Figs.

3 and 4-) and the pulley 24. of themotor 22 is rotating in the clockwise direction; the

said pulley will drive the power pulley 25 mounted-on theshaft of a speed changing device employing the spur gear wheels 27, 2-8, 29, 30 and the pinions 31.- The sleeve '32 is engaged with the wheel 27; it will be thus observed, considering the direction of rotation of-the wheels, that the direction of'the motion imparted by the pinions '51'to the shaft 33 of the worm 3 lactuating the chain wheel 18 will be such that the said carriage will be drawn to the right.v The shaft 35 of the wheel 18 carries a disc 36 provided with an eccentric pin 37 controlling the pawl 38 of 'a ratchet wheel 89 whose faces lO'and 41 are suitably recessed. j

The number of teeth of the said ratchet 'Wheel is equal to the number of revolutions made by the wheel 18 during the "complete course of the carriage; or twice the length of the path covered during the forward and backward movement required for the forward travel of the bridge.

When the carriage has moved forward'and backward as above'stated, a locking bolt 42 Y will enter one of the recessesin the wheel 39, and will bring by the member 43 pertaining to the rotating shaft l l-the sleeve 32 into engagement wlth the wheel 29. At the same time an analogous system (bolt 45 and member-461for the shaft 47) will couple the shaft 53, and the level gearing 54.

sleeve 4:8 to the loose pinion 49, so that the latter will be actuated by the pinion 51 and will thus actuate the" pinion 52 driving the 55. will thence drive the shaft 56 of the worm drivriage. it will suffice to dispose the eccentric ing the power wheels 9 10-1112 fort-he bridge. r I i To regulate these movements of the car- Pin 37 in the proper position and to place the said recess at the suitable points; By these mo'drficationathe carriage will be caused to bridge regulated in advance-are completed, anarm 57 which nrged by the spring 58 will drop into a recess in the disc 59 mounted on the shaft 53 thus effecting 60-61 and 46-the uncoupling of the pinion'52 whereby the bridge will be stopped. At the same time the arm 45 will leave the recess'of the disc 410 in which-it was engaged and the arm 42 will act inilihe manner rela-' tively to the recess of the plate ll. As concerns the arms lQ-and 4:5, this motion will be efl'ectedby 111621105OfbllQlETfilllPS 4L2 and 45. lVhen this operation is terminated, the bridge will occupy "the lined position (uncoupling of the pinion 52) and the carri age will return from left to right (coupling of with the wheel 27) until the arm 42 falls into the next recess in the'disc l1. 7 I

The said recesses areso disposed that this movement will be solely produced, so that the carriage will cover the whole'length of the bridge; whenit attains the other end, the same movements will take place in the order stated but inthe inverse direction.

' Obviously, if the amount of the movements will not permit of disposing the recesses on a given periphery of the discs, the latter will compriseihelical ramps in the inverse direction of the worm type) coacting with the said arms, and the said ramps willbe recessed at theproper places.

In order that all of the aforesaid move by the members riage bya reversingswitch which is actuated at the propertime by suitable tappets.

The apparatus may be stopped either by breaking the circuit orjby placing the belt u on a loose ullev 25, or bv ad'ustin the wheel 39 so that the sleeve 32 will constantly occupy the uncoupling position.

a The second operation of the apparatus is the removal of the plowsha'res (or the like) from: the ground, the turning of the plow, and the insertion of the plowshares in the ground when the implements or machines have reached the ends of thebridge.

The device for this purpose is mounted upon the bridge itself, as shown in 4;, and it comprises a rack 65 which is urged out of its recess by a spring 66; said rackliaving a shoulder 67 in which is slidahle the arm which normally actuates the slide 69 controlling a cable 70 which is connected at one end -(after passing over the supporting pulleys 7172) with the double rack 73 urged by the spring 74} The shaft 750i the wheels which-through the connecting member 78 actuates the pawl 79 of a ratchet 80 whose shaft 81 carries a loose wheel engaging the rack 65. A coupling sleeve 83 mounted on the shaft 81 is actuated by a lever 81 disposed on the axle or fulcrum 85 whose outer end is secured to the member 86 pertaining to the shafts 87 and 88; said. member carries at one end an arm provided with a reaction spring 90 and at the other end the device 91 controlling a hook 92 which uncouples the rod 78. The outer end of the member 86 is connected by a cable 93-disposed on the supporting fork 94to an abutment 95 revoluble on an axle 96. At 97 is shown an abutment pertaining to the bridge.

The double rack 73 engages on the one hand with the ratchet wheel 98 provided with the pawl 99 whose arresting member 100 is mounted on a driving piece 101 secured to an arm 102 mounted on the shaft 103 and whose lower part is hinged at 105 and can pivot only in one direction, and on the other hand with the wheel 106 actuating the plow 7 cable 107.

The carriage 16 is supposed to be traveling in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 1) the wheels 76 actuatethrough their shaft 75 provided with the crank 7 7-the pawl 79 which drives the pinion 82, through the medium of the-ratchet wheel 80 and the sleeve 83 which is now coupled. The rack 65 is now brought gradually to the left. WVhen the latch 89 drops into the recess in the rack 65,

the bolt 68 will also drop into its recess in the slide 69, thus connecting it with. the rack. The springt66 is now stretched to the maxi mum. While this double locking is taking place, the'pawl 79 is lifted by the hook 92 and no longer engages the wheel 80. In this position (Fig. 4c) the spring is stretched ready for action. 1 y

The abutment 95 will meet the tappet 97 at the desired point for stopping the plow; the latch 89 is now withdrawn from its recess in the rack 65; the spring 66 will draw upon the rack, so that the slide 69 will actuate the cable 70.

The said cable draws forward the double rack '7 3, while setting its spring 7 1 in position. The wheel 98 which is first actuated will draw forward the cable 107 which will raise the plow, passing over the pulley 108.

At this time the rack 73 will actuate the tapcontact with a buffer 113 and is brought back by its spring 74; it is disengaged from the latch 111 which now holds the wheel 106 7 after its half revolution and at the same time releases the pawl 100, so that the plowshare (or like parts) can now drop intothe ground by the weight acting on the cable 107 which can now freely unwind; it is then released from the wheel 115 and then from the pawl 100, and returns to the starting position.

The action of the spring 741 perponderates when the slide 69-in its movement under the effect of the spring 66-meets with the abutment 116 which acts upon the arm 68 so as to release the slide 69 from the rack 65.

73 is a latch for stopping the rack 73.

When the carriage is to travel upon the whole length of the bridge, the arrangement of the abutments is such that their action will be exercised during its travel only once in two passages in a given direction.

For smaller distances of travel, the action is exercised at each passage'in a given direction, and there will be no'action in the other direction.

The implement (plow or the like) as well the carriage are drawn forward by the hooks. 118-119 provided with the compression spring 120, 121 upon which the chain 17 acts in turn, and to which are attached in turn the end of the arm 117 the elastic traction on the hooks assures a reliable connection with the arms.

In order that the insulated electric cable shall follow the movements of the carriage (Fig. 6), the pulley is'permanently connected with the shaft 53 (Fig. 3) actuating the driving wheels 910-1112. hen the bridge moves in oneor the other direction the shaft 53 actuates the pulley 130, which drives the gear wheels 131 and 132 (Fig. 6).. The gear iwheel 132 actuatesthrough the medium of the link 133 the gear wheel 13 1 engaging a toothed disc mounted on the drum 135 for winding the electric cable 136. The link 133 is engaged in a guide 137, and a spring 138 secured to the rings 139 and 1 10 connects these two members together; 14-1 and 1 12 are two bearings.

According to this arrangement, the move ment of the bridge will correspond to the movement of the drum 135, and since the cable 136 is wound in an irregular manner on the said'drum, the spring 138 will yield when the cable offers a resistance to the winding which counteracts the effect of the link 133. Obviously, he pulley 130 will be rotated in the proper direction, and the spring 138 will have a suitable power.

In the case of implements having an unsymmetrical disposition, such as plows or the like, it required for flat'working that plow beam 148 and adapted for engagement withthe'disc .145. The said latches are maintained in their notches by the springs 151, 152.. The arm 11'? carries a rack 153 whoselower part forms a projection 154 directed speed,- a reversing device comprising avsleeve towards the plow beam.

When the plow is at the end of the furrow and, is raise dby the cable 107 (Fig. the

. angled will be diminished; theend part 154 pushes the collarl55 and the latches are withdrawn by the. cables 156157; Continuing its action, the rack153 engages the gear wheel 158 whichis loose on its'shait, but actuates the ratchet wheel 159, mounted on theplow, by means of the pawl 160; When the plow hasbeen turned about, the latches 148-149engage in the notches, thus stopping the rotation of the plow. The rack 153 will not act upon the collar in the contrary direction, since this is not allowed by the hinge, so that theplow is ready to proceed upon the next furrow, and so on for each reversal. In theinterior of the bridge are disposed atsuit-able distances apart the rollers maintaining the traction chain wherebyall friclZlOIl' between the chain and thestructure' will be prevented employed in current practice.

Furtlierniore, the scope of my said appaparallel position, and herein the apparatus v will be displaced upon two rolling platforms, employing a narrow gauge transverse track,

Obviously, at the end of the bridge opposite the endatwhich the motor is mounted, I dispose the said -chain wheel as well as the de- 'vices used for the forward rtravel-of'the apparatus. I

I It shouldbe understood that all the parts herein described can be replaced by equivalent partshaving the same'functions and of types ratus' lSI10tll-I1'llt-8(l to the use of a single bridge, but according to the surface of the ground'i may use one or more bridges lnthe upon which the apparatus is moved and is transported to'the point coinciding withthe track upon which'it to be used. 7

'At the ends of the field,'at which there may be" situated g apevines mounted on stakes,

fruit trees 'or'the like, siould the alternate motion of the carriage-due to its oblique forward 'movementofier prejudice to such crops 'or'tree's, I obviate this defect by prowhich by coacting forward inoparallel position andsuitably cross-braced,

said girders resting by means or lateral sup ports upon a .truck traveling upon rails,'each girder carrying internally and externally one of the rails for a travelingcarriage which is actuated by an endless chain coacting with'a pair of recessed chai n wheels mounted at the respective endsjeotthe apparatus, an electric motor with internalair cooling and comprising suitable accessories whereby one of the said chain wheels may be driven at reduced and gear wheels actuated by I the electric motor and driving bevel and worm gearing gage-one of the recesses on the other side of the wheel whereby the shaft of the said worm will be coupled to the gearfor driving apparatus, the said apparatus being'stopped by means of ahspring latch which is mounted upon gear secured with a recess in" a disc on themain shaft controlling the driving wheels of the-apparatus will uncouple the said locking bolts from their recesses in the sides ofjthe ratchet wheel,

V 2; A constructional form of the said appacomprising: two structural bridge frames or girders placed vertically in the parallel position and suitably cross-braced, said. girders resting bynieans of lateralsupports upon a truck traveling uponrailaeach girder carrying internally and lexternall' one of the rails for a traveling carriage whic is actuated by an endless chain coacting with ratus a pair of recessed chain wheels mounted at, the respective ends of the apparatus, an electric motor with internal air cooling and-comprising suitable accessories whereby one of the said chain wheels'may be driven at reduced speed, the said carriage comprising a .rack controlled by a reaction spring and provided with a shoulder coacting with a stud which controls a notched slide actuating the cable of a double rack controlled by a reaction spring, the'wheels o'f-said carriage actuat ing-by crank, link and pa'WL-av ratchet wheel whose shaft carries a coupling sleeve as well. as a pinion coacting with the first- Inentioned rack, the; said sleeve being controlled by suitable gearing and carrying a spring latch coacting with a recess in the to the said clutch and said rack, a cable attached to a pivoted lever which controls the uncoupling of the link when it meets the abutment of the bridge, the double rack actuating'on the one hand the ratchet wheel. controlling the cable which serves to raise the agricultural implement, whereof the stopping pawl is'secured to gear mounted on an arm oscillating in a single direction which is also actuated by the double rack, andon the other hand the wheel actuating by a pawl the wheel pertaining to the traction cable for the agricultural implement as well as itslocking bolt operating in asingle direction, the controlling ratchet wheel carrying an arm whereby the cable of the agricultural implement is ided the stroke .ot the rack being limited y shock absorbing devicethe said rack then proceeding to the rearas tar as its abutment under the action of its spring, when the slide which controls it meets an-abutment which releases it it'rom the first-mentioned rack.

A constructional tormot thesaid appa at-us, comprising two structural bridge frames or girders placed vertically inthe parallel position and suitably cross-braced, said girders resting by means of lateral supports upon a truck traveling upon rails,each girder carrying internally and externally one of the rails for the travelling carriage whichis actuated by an endless chain coactingwith a pair of recessed chain wheels mounted at the respective ends of the apparatus, an electric motor with internal air cooling and comprising suitable accessories whereby one of the said chain wheels may be driven at reduced speed, the said carriage comprising a rack controlled by a reaction spring and provided with a shoulder coacting with a stud which controls a notched slide actuating the cable of a double rack controlled by a reaction spring, the wheels of said carriage actuat-c ing-by crank, lin lr and pawla ratchet wheel whose shaft carries a coupling sleeve as well as a pinion coacting with the first-mentioned rack, the said sleeve being controlled by suitable gearing and carrying a spring latch coacting with a recess in the said rack, a cable attached to a pivoted lever which controls the uncoupling of the link when it meets the abutment of the bridge, the double rack actuating on the one hand the ratchet wheel controlling the. cable which serves to raise the agricultural implement, whereof the stopping pawl is secured to gear mounted on an arm oscillating in a. single direction which is also actuated by the double rack, and on the other hand the wheel actuating by a pawl the wheel pertaining to the traction cable for the agricultural implement as well as its locking bolt operating in a single direction, the controlling ratchet wheel carrying an arm whereby the cable of the agricultural implement is guided,,the stroke oi the rack being limited by a shock absorbing device, the said rack then proceeding to the rear as far seas abutment under the action of its spring, when" the slide'which controlsit meets an abutment which releases it from the first-mentioned rack, the arm guiding the cable ofthe agriciiltural implement being adapted to drop at each halt-revolution into hooks controlled by spiral springs which are mounted on the said carriage. I I j 43. A constructional form of the said appa ratus, comprising two structural bridge frame-smgirders pl acedvertically in the parallel position and suitably cross-braced, said girders resting by, means ot'lateral supports uponia truck traveling upon'rails, each girder carrying internally and externally one or the rails for the travelling carriage which is actuated by an endless chain coacting with a pair of recessed chain wheelsniounted' at the respective endsot the apparatu'syan' electric motor w1th mternal a1r cooling and comprls iiig suitable accessories whereby one of the said chain wheels may be driven at reduced speed, an electric cable supplying current to' the said carriageoa pulleyconnected with the shaft actuating the driving wheels ottheapparat-us and actuating level gearing iwhei'e'ot one wheelcarries a" link coactingwith a gear" wheel engaging a like wheel mounted on'the cable drum'through the mediumot a spring mounted infa guiding sleeve.

5; A constructional formof the said appja' ratus', comprising "two structural bridge" frames or girders placed vertically intlie parallel position and suitably cross-braced, said girders resting by means or lateral supports upon a truck traveling upon rails, each girder carrying internally and externally one of the rails for the traveling carriage which is actuated by an endless chain coacting with a pair of recessed chain wheels mounted at the respective ends of the apparatus, an electric motor with internal air cool-V ing and comprising suitable accessories'where- V which controls a notched slide actuating the cable of a double rack controlled by a reaction spring, the wheels of the said carriage actuating--by crank, link and pawl-a ratchet wheel whose shaft carries'a coupling sleeve as well as a pinion coacting with the first-mew tioned rack, the said sleeve being controlled by suitable gearing and carrying a spring latch coact-ing with a recess in the said rack, a cable attached to a pivoted lever which controls the uncoupling of the link when it meets a the abutment of the bridge, the double rack actuating on the one hand the ratchet wheel controlling the cable which serves to raise the agricultural implement, whereof the stopping pawl is secured to gear mounted. on an arm oscillating in a single direction which is also actuatedby theidqublelrachand onjthe ether hand the Wheel actuating by a pawl the wheel pertaining tothe traction, cable fer the agri- "cultural. implement as well as its locking belt eperating in a single direction, the ccntrolling ratchet Wheel carrying an arm whereby the cable of the agricultural mplement is guided,

V the stroke of the rack beinglimited by a shbck absorbingdevicegthe said rack then proceed ing to therear asfai' as its abutment :unden theactmn of lts spring, when the slide wh ch contrels it meets an abutment whichrelea'ses 'itl'i'rom' the first-mentioned aclg the arm guiding the cable ofthe agricul al iinple nientibeingadapted to drop at each half-revs; 1

' lntionintc hooks controlledby spiralspiings which are meunted i on the said ,c airiage, a.

sleeve fpivcted at the end fol 1 the controlling arm and in which is engaged the contrcl of the agricultural implement,- and carrying a disc,

having two'netches coaeting ,With latches 'mcunted on a clisc'secu 'edtc the said control and urgedinto their L -ecesses by sprl gsfanfl oscillatlng rack acting in a'ysingle direction.

Whichismountedpnthe said arm and carries 5 theb ottcm an abutmentt n ned tOWai-dsthe control fortheagncultutal mplement said,

abutment-pushing in thefirst place ;a ccllai:

releasing the said latches from their correk f spending notches befblie the said rack .actuates a' loose Wheel 'WhosepaWl actsin a: single die, 7

V h ofMamAiD; i926. shaft and connected with the agricultural j rection :upona Wheel monnted on the same 7 V weenie V I Agricultural machinery including a sup pcrtingbridge adapted. for bodily travel on a trackway, acarriage adapted fortravehlon gitudinally of the bridge, means onth'e can riage to be connected to an agricultural implenent, means on the carriage for raising the implementimm the ground and reversing. the same, operating means on lth'e'carriagefor actuating the elevating and-reversing means in: cluding springs, and means operated I in the nio'yeznent of the Vcayriage on thebridge yfol tensi0ningsaid springs. V f t V 7. An agricultural machine including .a' bridge adapted for tljiLVBLOil a trackway, a carriage mounted" for movement longitudh nally Of the bridge, implement draft means m6'untedbn thecai'riage, means on the carriage for lifting and reversing the implement ti ayel of thelcaiti age, said means including a cable for lifting Qthe draft means, an arm forming m Of the drattmeans, a wheelto moye the arm-through an arc of 180, and a rack tea cpei ating the cableand said Wheel in succession, a spring ion "operating the rack," meansieperatedin the traveler" the carriage feii teiisioning the spring, and a, member engaged ata predetei mined point in the travel zit-the cail'iag'e lfciiifeleasing the-spring for QIatiQnQJ r S gnedat Bordeaux, France, thistenthday 1 egment, M Amhct ime, I 

